The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-09-14
THE BLUE RIDGE RAILROAD.
Homes arc Entertained that the
Dream OF Forty Years Is to be
Realized.
anderson Journal.

anderson Journal
If anything touches a sympathetic chord
among the people Of this section H. Is the
mention of probable. or even possible, COM
pletion OF the old Blue Ride railroad. 1t has
been the dream OF more than generation,
and at times 1t was the pet of almost the ell.
direct and most feasible outlet to the West
from South Carolina Is through Rabun Gap,
and all attempts to prove some other route
across the mountains as equally prncticaole
have proved futile III naarly every instance.
II can thus be understood how much interest
centcrs about Il late rumored determination
to complete the old fayorite highway between
the West and the sea. A great deal Is conjec-
known beyond the fact that prospcctors have
been out along the line, that the old route has
been inspected, the amount Of work estimat-
ed, and tile status Of the several charters care
fully inquired into.
Last Tuesday morning Mai. VIM. Fl. Case
CO me to Anderson to confer with representa-.
tive men In regard TO the present Ins,f Stafns Gi
and the Georgia line in the direction OF
Rabun Gap, and In the afternoon he depurted
for Atlanta. He represents the Cumberland
Valley and Unake Railroad Company, which
proposes to open a line Of road leading from
Nashville across the Cumberland plateau, By
way OF Knoxville and Rabun Gap, to deep
water on the seaboard. The company Is
and Iron, and Maj. Case says in castlng about
them they find their most favorable outlet TO
be in this direction. Col. Cole. OF railroad
fame in Tennessee, is interested In the enter
prise, and 1t was to confer with him that Maj
Case left for Atlanta. He says their first OBJ
ject is to open road through to Rabun Gap,
and thence by the most favorable route 10 tae
sea. If the right Of way and franchises TO
Walhalla can be secured, and a satisfactory
traffic arrangement there made with the
Richmond and Danville lines, the object OF
desired to coine to Anderson, and If satisfac-
tory arrangements cannot be made here, then
push on In the direction Of deep water. This
Is about all that we learn now, put lntnre
developments will be watched with unaoated
The Eco,rce Courier last week made the fol-
lowing mention Of the runorcd revival OF the
old enterprise:
This great thoroughfare, which has been
discussed for upwards of forty years, and the
building OF which was begun thirty years ago,
has to-day flirer prospect of being complet-
ell though under new name, than ever be.
fore. A company of capitalists from New
York and Louisville, who are Interested In
coal and iron mines along and beyond the
route Of the old partly graded road, propose
In Tennessee through the Blue Ridge to the
scacoast. The new road will be known as
the Cumberland Valley and Unake Road, and
is expected to follow US far rs possible tne
route of Blue Ridge Road via Clayton, Ca, to
Walhala ard thence to Charleston; The sur.
veying party under charge OF Col: Coleman
reached Walhala last Saturday and returned
TO tennessee on MOnuay. nc SURVEY HUN
CLAYTON Eastward follows tile old line, Of
which 20 per cent. of the grading has been
done Estimates will be made Of the cost OF
completing the road, partly graded but be-
fore any permanent location Is made, other
surveys and estimates will be made through
Georgia and South Carolina, and the most
favorable and least expensive route VIII De
adopted. The road will not run directly to
Knoxville, but South Of it 40 or 50 miles; but;
as it taps roads running to kn0Xyille, IT
serves aIi the purposes of the Blue Ridge and
penetrating farther, opens up new and unde'
velopcd sections of country, rich In mineral.
We do not rest our hore of the road being
built on the belief il will In itself be paying
investment to the owners, at least FOR years
10 come, but on the value OF the road 10 the
land. It Is the nearest and best route to the
coast and its completion would enchance the
property Of these capitalists I'VE .Snppose) far
more than the cost of the road. We hear also
that the company has been buying lands
along the route, which augurS well that they
are in earnest We earnestly hope 1t Will be
built and run by Walhalln.